Monday, November 23, 2009

3:49 PM

U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold rolled out the first program targeted by his "Spotlight on Spending" series Monday, calling for an end to funding media broadcasts to Cuba.

Feingold argues the $300 million in federal money spent on Radio and TV Marti -- established by the Reagan administration in 1983 -- reaches very few Cubans due to jamming by Cuban government. Feingold also says the broadcasts fail to meet journalistic standards with regard to balance and objectivity.

"As we progress toward a more modern and constructive relationship with Cuba, Radio and TV Marti no longer have any real diplomatic or fiscal purpose," Feingold said in a statement. "I plan to bring up this issue when the Senate takes up President Obama's recently announced nominees to the Broadcasting Board of Governors."

The program was one of more than 40 highlighted under Feingold's "Control Spending Now Act," which was introduced in October. The "Spotlight on Spending" series -- which the New York Times compared to former Wisconsin Dem Senator William Proxmire's "Golden Fleece" awards -- will regularly highlight the individual spending provisions Feingold hopes to eliminate.

A National Republican Senate Committee spokesman reiterated the GOP's position that Feingold's bill contradicts his votes in favor of the federal stimulus legislation earlier this year.

"If Russ Feingold really wants to turn the spotlight on spending, voters need only look at his misguided votes in favor of the 'stimulus' package that has been fraught with waste and his ardent support for the Democrats' $2.5 trillion government-run health care bill -- both of which added to our already skyrocketing national deficit," said Colin Reed of the NRSC in a statement.

Feingold's staff previously noted a vote against an omnibus spending bill this year as an example of the Middleton Democrat's "long history of fiscal responsibility."